Job Cancelled

Perhaps I should have been apprehensive when my incredibly busy supervisor stopped by my desk today and asked whether the job recommendation she wrote for me got me a new job or not. As always a bright spirit, I replied that it had worked out for me. She breathed a sigh of relief and then handed me my re-contracting papers. These were not like the papers my fellow Unnan ALTs received. These papers already had all the boxed checked and the lines filled out. Apparently, due to the budget they are cutting the ALT position at Daito High. They are making the Yokoto ALT come to Daito once or twice a week and the Mitoya ALT take over visiting Iinan High once a week. Good luck!

First I was shocked. I had no warning they were going to do this because they never warn you about stuff in Japan. Second, I was worried. Had I done something to make them not want another ALT? (I mean I do go home for an hour lunch break and I am currently writing a blog at work!). Now, I just feel sad. I don't know exactly why. So let's enjoying evaluate!

Positive Side of Getting Rid of ME!
1. The school does not have to pay for a girl who does half as much work as everyone else.
2. There is no unsuspecting JTE that will be forced to look after the me as a supervisor.
3. There will be no more foreign girls lurking in the school and freaking out their students with a cute but incomprehensible language.
4. There will be no more explaining everyday things (like the use of kerosene and why short skirts in winter are a good thing) that are soooo obvious to everyone except the foreign girl.
5. There will be no retarded foreigner living in the neighborhood who is unable to sort her trash perfectly.
6. The foreign girl won't bring other foreigners around to sully the town with their loud voices and dispositions to have fun and not practice bukatsu for ten hours a day!
7. I don't have to write any of that successor info crap! (the only really positive thing!)
(It is getting bitter, better move on)

Negative Side of Getting Rid of ME!
1. There will be less chance for the students to interact with a foreigner.
2. The JTEs will not have much opportunity to practice their English with a native speaker. They will get to continue teaching, "I play skiing" without any objection.
3. The small but positive effect I am making by forcing the students to write speeches and read them in class will be lost. ( I do think it has proved their speaking ability.)
4. Daito is a great school. I get along with all my JTEs. They give me lots of freedom but at the same time lots of help. No other ALT is going to benefit from this situation and that's too bad!
5. There will be nothing for the students to write about in their class journals about how small the ALT's head is.
6. They won't have anyone to blame when things go wrong. (remember, doesn't matter where you are at, it is always the foreigner's fault!)
7. With each entrance of new 1st graders their English is getting better and better. I am glad that the JTEs can now correct that and subject them only to Katakana English and thoroughly retard their ability to speak English altogether!
(Oooops, getting bitter again)

In the end, I am thoroughly dismayed. But it is not the end of the world. I just can't help feeling sad. I do already have employment after JET and had never intended on staying another year. I have no reason to be sad as this will have no effect on me whatsoever, but I can't help it.

C'est La Vie!

Hamada: Far Far Away Jewel of Shimane

At the beginning of the new year the city of Hamada likes to hold a Junior High School English Camp for their students. This is one of the most well organized English events I have been to and after going last year I signed up to go again this year. It is a full day on Saturday (8:30 till 3) but completely worth it. I usually spend all my time with high school students so it was fun to hang out with younger kids. Though, I don't want to give you the impression that I like kids at all, but it is fun making them try to understand the noise that you are shouting at them!

Then after the English camp, my partner in crime Sara and I stayed to party it up with Hamada JETs. We were pleasently surprised. First, Hamada has some good bars, unlike the filth that is Hydro! And, they have good people living there that we would have liked to get to know better but they live far far far far far away! Zanen! But it was great to mingle, drink, and sing karaoke with them. Special thanks to Donna for letting us crowd her cute apartment and stay the night!! :) Here are some photos as proof that we did visit that mysterious and hidden city of Hamada.


Say "P'nawn da" to Gemma and "Howdy" to Ken (known as Shimane - Ken, get it?). Two Hamadians!

Just a plutonic kiss between mutually respected peers. Stop thinking those dirty thoughts!

Lena and I taking a moment to reflect on what just happened!

Say "Guten Tag" to Karin! She is one of our German speaking JETs!

棟上げ (muneage)

Yesterday I had the rare pleasure of being invited to Muneage. It is a Japanese tradition that when someone builds a house to have a ceremony to ensure the longevity and sturdiness of it. Japanese people love their ceremonies.

Last year I met a woman who lives in Daito and I often run into her at the wonderful establishment of Green City, so we have hung out a few times. Miwa Tadai is married to the owner of a pachinko parlor right here in Daito and has three small kids. Recently her father started building a house in Daito. So she called me the day before the ceremony and asked if I wanted to come. Many Japanese people never get to participate in Muneage because it is going out of fashion and less Japanese people are building houses. So I was very grateful that she invited me so that I could see it.

The ceremony was not complicated or long. First, the men go in the house and say some stuff, drink some sake, and then pray with the man in charge of building the house. The interesting part comes when they start throwing mochi (rice cakes). From the top of the house they throw mochi from the four corners and the women and children stand below trying to catch it. Some of the mochi had money hidden inside so the kids thought it was fantastic. Mochi on its own is not very tasty. It is just this white block of hard rice. So it was funny to see children scrambling to get it. Also, it is really hard. So when they were throwing it you would try to catch it in a bag but if you looked down to pick some up that you missed you could possibly be hit in the head with a hard block of mochi. It was hilarious. I saw so many people get beaned with mochi! It was a good time. Also, I was informed that I should not bake the mochi to eat it because that represents setting the house on fire. I should therefore, only boil it to ensure the safety of the house. Todd pointed out that boiling might represent flooding but the Japanese did not seem worried about that!

Also, a note on Japanese houses. They are basically just wood and paper. The houses are built relatively quickly, in just a few months. They are not prone to insulate or other common necessities when building houses in the States. This makes Japanese house kinda like the kei-cars we drive, disposable. They build the houses quickly, easily, (never cheaply, nothing is cheap in Japan), and then instead of repairing the house when it is old, they tear it down and put up a new one. It is an interesting way to do things, I just wish I didn't have to be here in the winter! I think I am losing brain cells from using my kerosene heater all the time (as it is the primary way they heat homes/offices/schools!)

Ohio Christmas and Family

While I was freezing my tookas off eating gyoza and macaroni and cheese on Christmas, my family was enjoying their traditional holiday celebration back in the great state of OHIO! They partied at my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jeff's house this year which apparently had not one, but two Christmas trees from the picture. I hear they had ham, chocolate moose, and other delicious dishes. (Oh ham, how wonderful you are! One day we shall reunite in a country that knows how to prepare you and has ovens big enough to cook you!)

Apparently there were only three of the Harker clan missing from the festivities this year but all the babies came this time. In the picture is my second cousin Keldan, Dominic, nephew Cameron, Erica, and my Sister (not a baby) Colletta holding our nephew Tyler. So many babies!

I can tell that you are interested to see some of the Harkers! So here are some pictures.

This first pictures is Uncle Dave, Aunt Ann, and Katie. Aunt Ann is my Dad's oldest sister. Uncle Dave is in the military and recently had the good fortune to be stationed in Ohio! Katie goes to Beavercreek High School and Aunt Ann spends her days chasing after their pooch Tess!

These lovely people are my cousin Esther, Uncle Rex, and Aunt Bev. They live close by in the great town of Xenia. They are both in the medical profession. Esther is soon to graduate from high school.

These tall gentlemen are my Uncle Jeff, my dad Mark, and my grandfather Fred. My Uncle Jeff is 4th down the family tree of siblings and my dad is the baby. It goes Ann, Bev, Dan, Jeff, and Mark.

This is my cousin Mary Ann, her husband Jameson, Dominic, and Erica. Mary Ann and Jameson live in Xenia and Mary Ann is a beautician. I think Erica is enjoying elementary school and having a little brother!

This is my cousin Sarah with our grandparents Lola and Fred. Sarah lives in Columbus and is posed to graduate from college in May. Yeahhhhh!

This is my cousin Ari, Laura, and their son Keldan. Ari and Sarah are siblings. Laura and Ari live in Yellow Springs and have resisted getting Keldan's lovely blond hair cut. Isn't he cute!

This is my brother Kenneth and his wife. Kenny is holding my nephew Tyler who was born during the summer. They are doing quite well and from what everyone told me, Tyler was quite a hit at the party! Oh, everyone loves babies!

Finally, last but not least, is my cousin Heidi holding her cousin Dominic. Heidi is in the air force and is currently going through training to be a pilot. Suspiciously missing from all these pictures is Heidi's mom, my Aunt Nancy. She may have cleverly avoided the camera this year.